A walk down an old path

I haven't been on a personal photo trip for a long time. (That's when you say the hell with everything and everyone and toss your best camera over your shoulder and go somewhere just to take pictures.) In my case, the camera is my trusty Nikon 8008 and the place is about an hour away...Nebraska City.

Nebraska City is Nebraska's hidden treasure. You probably don't think about apples when you think of Nebraska but that's where they grow 'em. You probably don't think of trees when you think of Nebraska but that's where Arbor Day started. You probably don't think of a world class resort when you think of Nebraska but that's where the Lied Lodge is and well...it is!

I shot a couple of rolls there, ate a freshly baked piece of apple pie with ice cream and walked and listened. I had forgotten the sound of leaves and dried twigs crumpling under foot. I had forgotten the sound of the wind as it shakes the top of a giant cottonwood tree. I had forgotten the sound of a distant crow making claim over me for territory.

And if that wasn't enough, there are other things there, too. Including the Mighty Mo...the Missouri River. It's beautiful this time of years and the folks down there make it easy to see in all of it's glory--especially if you climb a tree to get a little better look.

It was a great day for me. I was very comfortable being myself with nothing more than the trusty Nikon, freeing myself from the nagging voice that said I should be using that camera more often. So here ya go. A path less walked.

See if you can do without football for a Sunday like I did. Let your kids see you climb a tree. Teach them to listen for the crow and the sound of crunching leaves and breaking twigs. Let them hear the the sound of the wind talking to the trees.

Find a path and walk it more often. You might even feel your soul smile, just like mine did.